Little Leggings Tutorial with Free Pattern!

This post has been our most popular, and we’ve gotten a lot of feedback along the way.  A year and a half later, we have decided to UPDATE!  While the instructions largely remain the same, we’ve done a complete overhaul on the pattern, creating one with a rise in the back for more booty space:).  We also added 2 sizes – 18 month and 2T.

After hours upon hours over days and weeks, which included lots of frustration and mess-ups along the way, we finally came to a happy end result!  Let me tell you – it was difficult, time consuming, and fun all at once.  We are not pattern makers, and we now have SO MUCH appreciation for everyone out there who is!  With that said, we have no plans to make updates to this fun little tutorial in the future:).  We hope you like the changes and encourage you to try all kinds of fun things, including making your very own patterns!  The full, updated tutorial is just below – hope you enjoy!

Well, it’s time for another tutorial!  And, because I can never get enough of my little cutie, I decided to make something else for the littles of the world.  I found this quick and easy tutorial from Make It & Love It for some great little leggings.  I loved my little leggings so much that I made some patterns to share, along with my own little adjusted instructions (since I don’t have a serger or a double needle).  What’s even better is that I have lots of fun knit fabrics from Girl Charlee to make my girl’s lil’ legs really stand out!  Now it’s your turn – find some fabric you love and make some leggings you’ll love even better!

What you’ll need:

– scrap fabric (something with some stretch to it, like a jersey knit)

– baby legging pattern

– paperclip or safety pin

– basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, sewing machine, etc)

Steps:

1.  Print out the pdf pattern from above.  Make sure you DO NOT SCALE TO FIT when you print!  This pattern includes sizes 6 months – 2T.  The pattern will print on 4 pages.  Cut out the pattern pieces, then match up the stars on each piece and tape them together to make one pattern. Need a bigger size?  Check out the tutorial from Make It & Love It to see how to make your leggings from an existing pair!

2.  Fold your fabric piece over, right sides touching.  Trace and cut out through both layers of fabric, which means you’ll end up with 2 pieces.

3.  Next, we are going to make the bottom hem.  Fold and press about ¼”, then fold and press another ¼” of each piece.  Be sure to lay your fabric right-side down before you fold the hems up!  I was silly and pressed them the wrong way the first time:)

4.  Sew along the hemlines.  I used a small zig zag stitch on mine, and it worked out great!

5.  Next, put your pieces one on top of the other, right sides together.  Pin the sides from each curved point up to the top, like this:

6.  Sew or serge along the upper curves, about ¼” in.  Once again, I used just a little zig zag stitch.

7.  Now, fold fabric in half the other way – just grab the top piece in the middle and lay it flat to look like this:

8.  Pin and sew or serge ¼” all the way around the curve (but don’t sew your leg openings shut:).  Cut off the excess (optional).

9.  Almost done!  Now, for the waist.  Fold and press about ¼” down.  Then, fold and press another 1”.

10.  Sew ¼” around the waistband, but be sure to leave a small opening (to put your elastic through).

11.  Cut your elastic.  I used ¾” non-roll woven elastic.  Just match it up to your waistband, folded in half, plus about ½” – 1”.

12.  Now it’s time for that handy paperclip or safety pin!  Put it through one end of your elastic (see pic).  Then, guide it through your waistband!

13.  Once you’ve got the elastic in place, overlap the ends by about an inch and sew it together.

14.  With the elastic inside the waistband, just sew the little hole shut.  And, you’re all done – turn those babies right-side-out!

Now, put them on a cute baby and make a few more pairs!  You’ll now know the back from the front fairly easily, because the back rise will be higher when you lie the leggings flat.  Get creative – use different patterns, use two different fabrics, add little buttons – make them unique!  Your little one will look fabulous, and she’ll be the talk of the playroom.  I’d love to see how yours turn out!  If you want to know when we post more tutorials, be sure to subscribe and like us on Facebook!

This post contains affiliate links, but only ones I use and endorse personally :).